Advances in therapy
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Advances in therapy · May 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyComparable efficacy and superior gastrointestinal tolerability (nausea, vomiting, constipation) of tapentadol compared with oxycodone hydrochloride.
Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in acute and chronic pain treatment, powered to assess noninferiority of the efficacy of tapentadol immediate release (IR) (50 mg, 75 mg) versus oxycodone hydrochloride (HCl) IR (10 mg), established comparable efficacy of tapentadol IR with oxycodone HCl IR, and suggested tapentadol IR's improved gastrointestinal tolerability. The impact of these equianalgesic doses of tapentadol and oxycodone HCl on bowel function and gastrointestinal tolerability was then directly assessed in the current study, using a validated bowel function diary to comprehensively assess opioid-induced constipation symptoms and outcomes. ⋯ Tapentadol IR (50 mg, 75 mg) consistently demonstrated superior gastrointestinal tolerability, including for the most commonly reported events, such as nausea, vomiting, and constipation at doses that provide comparable efficacy with oxycodone HCl IR 10 mg. These findings validate and extend the tolerability findings of the two earlier studies that established comparable efficacy of these tapentadol and oxycodone HCl doses.
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Advances in therapy · May 2011
Adherence and long-term effect of oxycodone/paracetamol in chronic noncancer pain: a retrospective study.
Long-term administration of opiates in patients with chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) is subject to debate due to insufficient clinical evidence to support efficacy and tolerability. ⋯ The results of this study support the hypothesis that an opiate-based combination at low doses improves tolerability and adherence and results in patients obtaining long-term efficacy. Larger studies of the use of opiates in this setting and clinical monitoring on the regional and national level may convince clinicians to view opiates as efficacious analgesics and not as dangerous substances of abuse.